Transgender Europe welcomes the EU Parliament’s highlight of the situation of trans asylum seekers in a Report on women refugees and asylum seekers in the EU, [1] adopted today on occasion of the International Women’s Day.

The report acknowledges that women and lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and intersex (LGBTI) people are subject to specific forms of gender-based persecution. Accordingly, LGBTI people may be subjected to abuse in countries deemed “safe” as well as in asylum facilities across the European Union. The European Parliament calls upon Member States to ensure reception facilities and procedures are sensitive to the needs of LGBTI people. Fast track procedures, such as safe country lists, must not lead to more refusals of otherwise substantiated asylum claims.

Today, the European Parliament also backed a report strengthening the gender dimension of the Parliament’s work [2], declaring that “gender mainstreaming must include the rights, perspectives and well-being of LGBTIQ people and people of all gender identities.” It also calls for gender impact assessments and gender-based analysis that are sensitive to the experiences of LGBTIQ people. It is believed to be the first report adopted that addresses the wellbeing of European Parliament LGBTIQ staff.

Julia Ehrt, Transgender Europe’s Executive Director comments:
“Trans refugees are often exposed to violence and abuse because of their gender identity in their countries of origin, during their flight, as well as in asylum facilities across EU Member States. We are concerned that fast track procedures, safe country lists and other means will undermine the universal human right to international protection in particular for LGBTIQ, and other marginalised groups of asylum seekers. Member states need to ensure trans refugees’ safety and rights are upheld during the asylum process and in refugee facilities.”

“Our research [3] shows that 99% of murdered trans people reported globally are trans women. Member States should no longer ignore the disproportionate level of violence faced by trans refugees and migrants in Europe because of the intersections of racism, transphobia, misogyny and the hatred against sex workers.”

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Notes

[1] Report on the on the situation of women refugees and asylum seekers in the EU (2015/2325(INI))